As a Brit I remember staying up into the middle of the night to watch the mega Heavyweight fights featuring Tyson, Hollyfield, Bow & Lewis held contests in Vegas, AC & NYC but now it seems US heavyweights have to come to the UK & Germany to eat, which also tips the balance in favour of boxers fighting out of those countries. I recently heard Tony Thompson saying "I want to make the UK my 2nd home" - which to me sounded like 'I get a much better payday over here, so give me a call!' And also watching last nights bizarre stoppage of Malik Scott a guy that came with a 35-0 record and talked the talk, he seemed not just happy to loose but to loose in a controversial fashion that will easily set up a rematch further down the road and an even bigger payday for himself. My question is what do US based HEAVYWEIGHT boxers typically take home for a DOMESTIC match up? As the top ones seem much happier fighting over here than back home.
I thought about that same exact thing yesterday. I think you are correct that UK and Germany are the financial centers of HW Boxing, currently. And this will probably continue for some while.
Well if the money for Heavyweight boxing remains in The UK & Germany then the title holders and the biggest draws will know doubt remain this side. There's pros and cons to that:- Pros 1) I don't have to stay up till 4am to watch the big Heavyweight title fights anymore. 2) We (the Brits) have genuine Heavyweight contenders with hometown supporters & promoters with all the advantages that brings that we never had in 80's & 90's. Cons 1) I miss the huge Heavyweight Vegas fights and all the hype & razzmatazz that brought. 2) Without US sport investing in its Heavyweights the division is a weak as I can ever remember. Boxing needs good US based heavyweights of which their are none to get excited about.
Agree nearly all the big HW fights are in europe atm since the Klitschkos took over but Stiverne vs Arreola was a good US heavyfight recently But not only HW beside Ward, old Hopkins and Quillin there isn't a top american boxer above 154
me too our german shows are ****. but there are at least 5 interesting HW from the other side of atlantic left Mitchell, Jennings, Wilder, Amir Mansour and Stiverne
Something tells me that if the UK hosted the HVW title fights and Germany had a few minor bouts involving contenders like the island does, Germany wouldn't be mentionned in the thread title at all. :deal
agree but our best "german HW" Dimitrenko, Charr,Gerber and Christian Hammer aren't even ethic german's at all Uk has Fury, Price and Rogan
Definitely. All the heavyweights end up fighting in Europe. US guys fight for peanuts until they can score a Klitschko cashout.
Don't really think you can consider Rogan one of the best UK heavyweights any more, but Fury and Rogan aren't ethnically British either.
The production of the German shows looks very impressive, you can tell a lot of money has been spent, packed arenas and stadiums well managed as you would expect from the German shows, problem is there seems to be very little entertainment as the Klitschko's methodically steamroller opponents which I find boring and the German audience itself seems so quiet & reserved. Not really good for TV on both counts. As a Causal fan I've only actually seen Wilder of whom I wasn't all that impressed with, the way he swings away reminds me of Curtly Ambrose the West Indian fast bowler for anyone thats watched Cricket. I have heard of Mitchell & Stiverne just haven't seen them yet.
its a hallmark of some of the best fighters in the world, and its not a coincidence that the longest reigning champions in the fight game are fighters who fight to their strengths, rather than 'beer and popcorn fights' (klitschkos, floyd and GSP in the UFC) sure its not as entertaining as gatti fights, but these are smart fighters EDIT : i meant fight to their strengths without 'going to war' and risking the fight unnecessarily
I'm not talking about Ethnicity just where fighters are based and where the biggest shows are at Heavyweight. With the advantage now with fighter and promoters based in UK & Germany is that damaging to the Heavyweight division or will it all equal itself out once a great young Heavyweight comes out of the US. Will the US promoters fully back their Heavyweights again or is it too risky a financial investment. Or is the US audience are just not interested in Heavyweight boxing anymore?
good questions - HW boxing could come back to the US but while the networks 'turn their back' on the klitschkos, it pretty much sealed a shift of favor from US shores to european it would take a US HW to change that, i bet
Well as a Brit I think boxing really needs a decent US heavyweight contender to electrify the sport again. I look forward to one appearing.
